Azul

AZUL

M y tail tip-taps on the warm metal as I snarl at a passing human medic, one who has gotten too close to my mate.

“They’re just trying to do their job,” a voice says behind me. A voice I already hate with a vengeance.

“My venom will heal her,” I growl out at Dan-the-human.

He’s the captain of a ship which is sleek, sophisticated, and light years ahead of what I understood the humans to be in possession of. It’s also the ship which took out Rossz’s remaining gang and provided medical assistance for Jenna, who had broken one of her beautiful legs.

Human assistance. It makes my scales crawl. She is my mate, and I should be the one caring for her.

“From what my medical staff have told me, it’s only because of your venom in her system she’s still alive.” Dan raises his hand as if he’s about to touch me, but I glare, and he drops it again. “You did save her, big guy.”

Big guy ?

I lift my lips to reveal my sharp fangs.

“Prince ,” he says, quickly. “Anyway, they think she should be awake soon, so we’ll leave you two alone.”

“Once she’s awake, we’re leaving,” I retort, like a youngling.

“As you wish.” He gives me a smart salute and quickly vacates my presence.

I take Jenna’s hand. It’s warm in mine. It belongs to me—she belongs to me, I’m sure of it. She took my venom, my seed.

She took my heart.

This is fate, I know it.

But what if it’s not?

“Come back to me, my Jenna. All my worlds are tied up with you. I need you to live, to breathe, to be who I know I can be. I need you.”

I drop my head gently to her chest where I can feel it rise and fall with her breath. I can’t risk hurting her any more than I already have.

She is my everything.

“You’re thinking too loudly,” Jenna murmurs, her hand squeezing mine gently, her eyes still closed.

“I can stop if it hurts you,” I reply.

“Everything hurts,” she says.

“Then I will kill every creature who made you hurt.”

“I sort of assumed you already had,” she murmurs, the hint of a smile on her lips.

Lips I have no option but to brush with the softest of kisses.

“I will always destroy anyone who tries to hurt you, my little sunray.”

“I will expect it.” She opens her eyes and I’m mirrored in them. “Where the hell are we?”

“We are on board the Star Fighter King Charles the Third .” I snort. “Your friend is the captain.”

Jenna’s brow furrows. “The S.C Britannia doesn’t have a fighting force,” she says.

“Apparently you do, but they’re very secret.” I sigh.

“Sounds very typical of the British way of doing things.” Jenna yawns. “What about Rossz?”

“He’s where you put him. He’s perfectly well and safe, but I do need to get him to Tisel.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Jenna pushes herself up on her elbows, wincing.

“I thought…” My heart is in my throat as I help her sit up. “I thought you might want to stay with your species.”

The way she looks at me, she might as well have held a blaster to my heart.

“I…want to be with you, . You’re my husband. You told me I was your bride, your mate.” Her hand flutters over her breast where I bit her. “Don’t you want me?”

“Oh, my love.” I pick her up as gently as I can, pulling her into my coils. “I want you more than anything. I want you enough to let you go, if that’s what you desire.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere, , unless it’s with you.” She looks up at me, water hovering in her eyes, which she blinks away fiercely. “With you, I got to be who I am, not just some second class security officer who is only useful when she ends up in a pseudo lottery which is actually a front for mail order brides.”

I can’t stop the grin spreading across my face.

“You are very useful,” I tease. “Especially in the dress you were wearing.”

“Don’t make me regret my choices, .” Jenna growls at me.

I dip my head to take her lips with mine, to kiss her until she is panting for breath.

“Would I do that to you?” I rasp. “My mate, my stars, my little sunray.” I kiss her again. “I know you’ll always choose me.”